St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1887-01-08
DOWN IN ARKANSAW.
A Fart Of the Country Where the Natl
Protect Themselves Against Stranger


| PrOtect Themselves Against Strangers.
James Landing. if some change OF
the Mississippi has not carried the
place away. is on the Arkansas shore.
three or four hours run above Mem
phis. started back into the country
one summer day to see an old friend
living about five miles from the Land.
ing. The merchant at the river bank
loaned me mule, strapped on an old
potato sack for saddle, and the start
was made in good shape. There isn't
the least necessity tor any other stranger
to GO over that road. In order to save
all trouble it may be stated Fat that
strip of Arkansas is composed OF
swamps. ague. mosquitoes, rattlesnakes,
watcrmelons and crows. Ii was in the
dryest season of the year and the peo-
pie were praying for rain. and yet that
mule couldn't be got Of = walk on ac-
count of the mud. Twice he got stuck
fast on the very crest Of what they call
hills. and he didn't tear himself loose
until the crows settled so thickly
around Us that terror came to inspire
him.
plished when log cabin was discov-
cred to the right Of tho road and sew
eral rods of. l was terribly thirsty
and reined toward the house, but had
not yet covered half the distance when
a pack of dogs broke loose from sOme-
where and came around the corner of
the hut. There were dogs of all shades
and breeds and colors, except pOodles
and pugs. l had time to notice a
bloodhound as high as yearling calf,
and bulldog built something like a
cider barrel, when the mule made a
break over a field of sickly corn and
into the timber. Before he was across
the field three or four of the dogs had
bitten him on the legs, and the blood
hound had jumped clear over him as
he made a grab at me. Right under
the low branches of = great old tree
be swept of or to climb of. l seized a
branch and let him pass from under
me, and next moment was looking
down upon seven yelping, bowling,
disappointed ours. They seemed to
feel something like n man does when
the sub-ofiice closes the circuit on him
as he is blowing up the grocer for not
delivering those goods. In about five
minutes a woman in poke bonnet and
carrying a shotgun on her shoulder
came across the field. and as she came
near enough to make out the object in
the tree she halted and exclaimed:
.Shoo! but thought it was coon"
''Sorry TO disappoipt you, ma'am.
p1oaS So 90 N off vorr AOma "
"What fur?'
$50 lean come down."
II shan't do nothin' of the kind? You
is new to these parts. and you don't
come down till | call Jim."
where is hep"
"At the saw-mill. over on the
branch"
"Wcll. please hurry up. I'm terri.
bly, thirsty. and these mosquitoes are
enough to drive one crazy
"Yes, l reckon; but never knOwed
an honest man to take to tree! The
dogs will see that you don't come down
afOre l bring Jim!'
1t was just an hour and half before
she returned with her old man. and he
was carrying a club in his hand. Dur
ing this interval the air around me was
literally alive with mosquitoes. killed
'em by the thousand. but where one
laid down his life for his country three
bit me to the bone and escaped to brag
of it. The dogs remained on guard.
and by way of keeping up my spirits
the bloodhound tried his jumping
powers. l was twelve feet up. He
could jump eleven feet and six inches.
He tried it over and over again, but
this was the best he could do. The
bull dog had some thought of gnawing
the tree down. but gave up the idea
after working fifteen minutes. The
others sat and glared at me and
smacked their chops and tasted quail
on toast. When Jim and his wife were
close to the tree they halted and she said:
That's him, up thar"
'.Now. Bets. describe him. for I'm
too nighsighted to get his pints. How's
his harp"
Short"
lis he saller complected?"
mo"
Fat or lean?'
.'kind O. between"
''Chaw plug or fine-cut?"
Cant say"
"Skeeters takin' to him?"
''Right smart"
..And he was ridin' Davis old mule.
eh?'
HE was"
'.Strangcr, who be you. whar' Won
yoin' an who do YOU know i'm these
here parts?' asked Jim, a. he came q
little closer.
Imade him stump-specch two min
utes long, and he turned to his wife
and said:
"Well, Bets. he talks squar'."
''But he may be lying" she pro-
tested.
Yes, that's so. Reckon I'd better
go'n git the Kurnel."
Look here. but want to get down"
l shouted. IF these mosquitoes don't
eat me up in another half hour | shall
certainly die of thirst. What's the
matter with you. any way? do you
take me for a wild animal?"
stranger. there's bin carvings on
in this huddle Of late. I've lost hog;
Joe Smith has lost a mule; Pete Col
Inns wife has run away: the old man
Williams took n drink of buttermilk
and fell dead. and Bets has bin dreamin'
of snaix and sich. Don't blame me fur
wantin' to know who's who. Have you
got ary gun?',,
"NO."
..Ary knife'"
"NO."
"Wall. Think we'll take the chances.
We'll stand on that knoll and call of
the dogs. and You kin come down and